"How much does a US$ 100,000 franchise make?" is one of the first questions from anyone considering the E2 Visa. The honest answer is: it depends — and, more importantly, average revenue shouldn't be your only selection criterion. Here's why.
Revenue is not profit
The first caution is not to confuse the two. Revenue is everything that comes in; profit is what's left after paying rent, payroll, suppliers, royalties, taxes, and other costs. Two franchises can have the same revenue and very different profits. For your family to live in the US, what matters is the profit — and the margin the model allows.
Where to find reliable numbers: the FDD
In the US, part of the networks publish, in the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), financial performance representations — the so-called Item 19. That's where you find real data from existing units, instead of promises. Not every network publishes these numbers, and those that do use different formats (average, median, ranges). Knowing how to read this document is an essential part of the analysis.
Why two units of the same brand perform differently
Even within a single franchise, results vary considerably. Key factors include:
- Location and territory — traffic, competition, and the profile of the region.
- Management — the day-to-day of whoever operates makes an enormous difference.
- The franchisee's profile — dedication, experience, and affinity with the business.
- Time in operation — mature units usually outperform recently opened ones.
That's why an average number is only a starting point. Your unit's result depends a lot on what you do with it.
Take a commercial cleaning franchise with an initial investment around US$ 100,000, which qualifies for the E2 and already has international franchisees. In a network with over 100 units, the average revenue was about US$ 400,000; the top 25% were around US$ 1 million; and the best unit reached US$ 3.6 million in one year. Note the distance between the average and the top — it shows, in practice, how much management, time in operation, and customer acquisition weigh. These are revenue figures (not profit), from one specific example in one specific year — they illustrate potential and variation, not a promise of results.
What to look at beyond revenue
When comparing options in this investment range, some criteria weigh more than gross revenue:
- Profit margin — how much actually stays with you.
- Payback period — how long until the investment pays for itself.
- Working capital needed — how much you need to sustain the operation until it gains traction.
- Fit with your profile — a business that suits you tends to do better.
For the E2, the business can't be "marginal" — it needs a perspective of generating profit and jobs. A franchise with good indicators helps sustain that potential before the immigration officer. But no number guarantees approval: the case still needs to be well structured by an attorney.
Where Unike comes in
Our specialty is helping you analyze and compare franchises within your budget, reading the FDD indicators and crossing them with your profile and goals — so the choice isn't about the biggest revenue on paper, but the best combination of return, risk, and fit. The immigration side continues with the specialized attorney we refer.